DESCRIPTION:
The F-35 was declared winner of the US Department of Defense Joint Strike Fighter
(JSF) competition in 2001 when the Lockheed Martin X-35 was judged
superior to the Boeing X-32. In 2006, the aircraft was named Lightning
II in honor of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the English Electric Lightning that saw success in earlier
eras.

The goal of the F-35 is to provide a family of three distinct variants of a multi-role fighter that use a
70% to 90% common airframe to reduce production and maintenance costs. The JSF is a joint program between
the United States and United Kingdom, and several other international partners are also participating in
the development effort. The primary customers dictating the design specifications for the various F-35
models are the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and UK Royal Navy. The overall design developed by
Lockheed with partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems resembles a scaled-down
F-22, but each F-35 variant is tailored to the specific needs of its operators.

The simplest and least expensive model is the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version based
on the X-35A. Intended primarily for the US Air Force, the F-35A is also likely to be purchased by a
number of export customers. Italy and the Netherlands are Level II partners while Level III partners
include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey. Both Singapore and Israel are also foreign
military sales participants. The F-35 CTOL variant will be optimized for attack duties with a limited
air-to-air capability to complement the F-15 and F-22.

The US Navy needs much the same capabilites in its F-35C carrier variant (CV) model based on the X-35C.
This model is intended to complement the F-18E/F and give the Navy its first
dedicated stealth attack aircraft. However, the F-35 CV is modified to meet more stringent range and
landing requirements. The most obvious of these modifications is a 35% larger wing permitting a higher
fuel capacity and providing greater wing area for improved lift at low speeds. Other changes to the F-35
CV version include larger fin and elevator surfaces, ailerons in addition to flaperons on the wing,
enlarged control surfaces, a modified control system, strengthened landing gear, a catapult launch bar on
the twin-wheel nose gear, an arrester hook, and a wing folding mechanism.

Perhaps the most critically needed F-35 variant is the most complex, the F-35B short/vertical takeoff and
landing (STOVL) model based on the X-35B. This model is intended to replace the aging
AV-8B and GR.5/7 Harrier II operated by the US Marines, Royal Navy, and
Royal Air Force. The F-35B variant features a ducted lift fan located in an enlarged spine just aft of the
cockpit. This fan takes the place of a fuel tank carried aboard the other F-35 models and is used to
provide most of the lift needed for vertical flight. The main engine powers the lift fan and is also
equipped with a unique swivelling nozzle that can redirect thrust aft for level flight or down for vertical
flight.

Unfortunately, the complexity of the F-35 STOVL model has also caused development problems for the JSF
program. The early design of the F-35B proved to be significantly overweight, and the program was delayed
by over a year as engineers struggled to meet the ambitious performance and cost goals. The solution
ultimately adopted was to reduce the size of the internal weapon bays in comparison to the other F-35
models. While the bays for the CTOL and CV variants are designed for 2,000-lb weapons, the largest weapon
the F-35B can carry internally is the 1,000-lb GBU-32 JDAM. The vertical tails of the F-35 STOVL have also
been shortened to reduce weight.

Design of the JSF has placed the greatest emphasis on advanced weapons concepts and affordability. One of
the most sophisticated features common to the various Lightning II models is an integrated core processor
that fuses information from all the aircraft's sensors into a single, coordinated view of the battlefield.
Among these sensors is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a synthetic aperture
radar mapping mode to provide the pilot with far more precise search and targeting capabilites than exist
in today's attack fighters. The F-35 is also equipped with an infrared search and track (IRST) system for
air-to-air combat while advanced air-to-ground combat features include an electro-optical targeting system
(EOTS) with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imager, a targeting laser, a laser spot tracker, and a CCD TV
camera. The F-35's sophisticated software is capable of analyzing the information these sensors provide
using an automatic target recognition and classification (ATRC) system to identify specific targets.

Other advances aboard the Lightning II include a speech recognition system that detects a pilot's spoken
commands and operates various systems without the need to press buttons or flip switches. While stealth is
also emphasized through the use of internal weapon bays and low obervable shaping techniques, sacrifices
have been made to lower costs and ease maintenance. As a result, the F-35 is not as stealthy as
the F-22 or B-2.

During the current system development and demonstration phase of the program, 14 F-35 aircraft are being
built to perform flight tests leading to initial production. These Lightning II test aircraft include five
CTOL, four CV, and five STOVL models. An additional eight ground test articles are being built for static
testing, drop testing, and radar signature evaluation. Low-rate initial production is already underway in
preparation for a full production rate goal of one aircraft per day by 2016.

F-35 orders remain a matter of debate, but current plans call for the US and UK to purchase approximately
2,600 aircraft. The US Air Force originally planned for 2,036 F-35A aircraft but reduced its requirement
to 1,763 in 1997. This total remains the offical requirement though the Air Force has unofficially
indicated its order may be reduced to between 1,000 and 1,300 aircraft. Some number of these may also be
F-35B models as the Air Force has expressed a requirement for up to 250 STOVL aircraft for close air
support missions. Such a purchase would likely assist in reducing unit cost and improving the stability of
the STOVL program, which has often been targeted for possible cancellation.

The US Navy and Marine Corps have also begun closer joint operations of their combat aircraft wings in part
to reduce the need for new aircraft. The Marines originally requested 642 F-35B models while the Navy
planned for 300 F-35C variants. In 1997, these figures were refined to 609 for the Marines and 480 for the
Navy for a total of 1,089 F-35 aircraft. As of 2004, that total had been reduced to 680 aircraft. The
purchase includes 260 F-35C carrier-based planes for the Navy plus 80 F-35C and 340 F-35B STOVL airframes
for the Marines.

Like the Marines, the Royal Navy may split its order between the F-35 STOVL and F-35 CV models since the
F-35C could potentially be operated aboard the UK's large aircraft carriers due to enter service in the
2010s. The total UK order has shrunk from 150 to 138 to 50 aircraft and will now only be purchased for the
Royal Navy to operate on a single aircraft carrier. The Royal Air Force has opted to replace the Harrier
with Typhoons rather than the F-35.

In addition to US and UK orders, the potential exists for over 2,000 F-35 sales to export customers. The
international partners currently involved in the program have expressed tentative plans for nearly 600
aircraft. Australia has ordered 14 and expressed an ultimate need for 100. Israel has ordered 20 with
an option for 75 more. Italy is interested in up to 131 planes (including 22 F-35B models for the Navy),
Turkey is considering 116, the Netherlands 85, Canada 60, and Denmark and Norway may buy 48 apiece.
The F-35 program is encouraging international partners to commit to firm orders as soon as possible.
Convincing the partners to do so may prove difficult, however, given past development delays that have
driven up costs and pushed service entry back from 2011 to 2013. These delays may cause international
partners to instead order competing aircraft like the Gripen or
Eurofighter Typhoon that are already in production. Norway has threatened to
pull out of the program over workshare concerns, and Israel's involvement was suspended for several months
in retaliation for possible technology transfer to China. Regardless, export sales are expected to be
strong and F-35 production will likely last until at least 2030. Other potential export customers include
Brazil, Finland, Greece, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan.

(F-35A) planned for about 2013
(F-35B) planned for about 2014
(F-35C) planned for about 2014

CREW:

one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

(F-35A) $45 million [2004$]
(F-35B) $60 million [2004$]
(F-35C) $55 million [2004$]
average unit cost estimated at $77 million [2008$]
average unit cost estimated between $89.5 million and $112 million [2010$]

(internal) up to two GBU-12 Paveway laser-guided, up to two GBU-31/32/38 JDAM, up to two CBU-87/89 cluster,
up to two CBU-103/104/105 WCMD
(external) GBU-10/12/16/24 Paveway laser-guided, GBU-31 JDAM, Mk 82/83/84 GP, CBU-99/100 Rockeye II cluster

Fighter demonstrator variants used to flight test and validate the advanced technologies of the F-35

F-35A

Multi-role conventional takeoff (CTOL) fighter based on the X-35A but with a slightly lengthened fuselage
and modified tail surfaces, developed for the US Air Force and equipped with an internal gun, infrared
sensors, and a laser designator; USAF plans to buy 1,763 but announced in December 2004 that this total
may be reduced

F-35B

Multi-role short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter based on the X-35B intended for the US
Marines and UK Royal Navy and equipped with a lift fan located in an enlarged spine behind the cockpit, an
external gun pod rather than a fixed internal gun, and smaller internal bays; USMC plans to buy 340 while
UK plans to purchase 60 for the RN and 90 for the RAF have been cut to 50 for the RN, Italy also plans to
buy 22 for Navy use

F-35C

Multi-role carrier variant (CV) fighter based on the X-35C and similar to the F-35A but with larger wings
for increased fuel capacity plus slats as well as larger horizontal tails and control surfaces for better
low-speed landing performance, strengthened structure and landing gear for carrier landings, and removal of
the internal cannon in favor of an optional gun pod on the centerline station; US Navy plans to buy 260 and
USMC 80

F-35D (?)

Proposed model for the USAF similar to the F-35B but emphasizing short-takeoff and landing (STOL) rather
than STOVL operations, would feature a revised propulsion arrangement based on the General Electric F136
engine and use the larger wing of the F-35C to increase fuel capacity and range, also to be equipped with
an internal cannon and an Air Force-style refueling probe; USAF expressed interest in over 200 of this
variant for close air support but it was quickly cancelled due to increased development costs and reduced
commonality with the F-35B

F-35I

Proposed Israeli variant identical to the F-35A but with potential to integrate Israeli-specific systems in
the future; initial order for 20 in negotiation during 2010 with Israel stating an ultimate requirement for
at least 75

EA-35

Lockheed Martin proposal for a two-seat dedicated electronic attack variant of the F-35, the primary
interest came from the US Marine Corps needing a replacement for the EA-6B
Prowler; not developed in favor of incorporating electronic attack capabilities into the standard F-35
variants